Fonte Capital, an investment manager in Astana, is launching Central Asia’s first spot Bitcoin ETF on the Astana International Exchange (AIX). The fund, named the Fonte Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund OEIC, will begin trading on Wednesday, August 13, under the ticker BETF.
The ETF will hold Bitcoin directly, with the price of its shares reflecting Bitcoin’s market value. U.S.-regulated BitGo Trust will serve as the custodian for the crypto assets. This fund is open to a wide range of investors, including retail participants, as it is a “non-exempt” product.
This move aligns Kazakhstan with major global financial centers like the U.S. and Hong Kong, which have also approved similar Bitcoin ETFs. The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), which regulates the fund, has a legal framework in place to support licensed crypto exchanges and investment products. The AIFC’s regulations are designed to protect assets from international sanctions and reduce reliance on foreign issuers.
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister has indicated that the country is working on legislative changes to further liberalize digital asset circulation and expand crypto-related activities, including a plan to launch “CryptoCity,” a pilot zone where crypto can be used for payments. The introduction of this ETF is a significant step in Kazakhstan’s broader strategy to become a regional hub for digital assets.
August 2025, Cryptoniteuae
